The Washington critic., 1887-01-31
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


side over the social surroundings of her
father for the remainder Of the present
season, as her mother and sisters will
not be In Washington until later. Mrs.
de Coven Is beautiful and highly
educated lady much under 30. Mr.. de
Coven, q son Of one Of Chicago's mer.
chant princes, is young gentleman of
2S years Of age, Of fine presence and
genial manners. The Senator has a
very interesting family, says Mr.. Keim
In the Philadelphia Times. Mrs. Far.
well was Miss Mary Il. Smith of South
Williamstown, Mass, the seat OF vii.
liams College, and one of the most gifted
the Berkshire Hills. She has two
daughters unmarried Miss Grace,
who has just finished her education at
Pennington, Conn, will make
her formal cntree into the gay
life at the Capital next season. The
youngest daughter, Miss Rose, Is at
school at Lake Forest University, near
Chicago. The Senator himself is not
only man of princely fortune, but of
princcly hospitality. He will consti-
tute another of the circle of Republi-
can grandees who make up the ele-
gance of the social circle of ambassa-
dors of the States of the Union In the
legislative department of the Govern
ment. Mrs. Cullom, who so hand.
somely introduced the family of her
husbands colleague to the society of
Washington, was Miss Julia Fisher of
Springfield She is one of the bright
est ornaments to the circle of the
married ladies of Senator'S families.
Her daughter Catherine is just out in
society and great favorite. They
were also assisted by Mrs. John Ma
ginnis, n popular society lady of New
York. Senator Cullom's eldest daugh.
ter, Ella, is the wife of w. b. Ridge.
ley of Springfield, Illinois. The social
life of the Senators from Illinois is
made very brilliant by the accomplished
and beautiful ladies of their families.
80
In the New York TriJune's "ITints
on Men and Affairs yesterday we find
the following: The public hears from
time to time about expensive dinners
that are given by wealthy men. General
George A. Sheridan struck this topic
the other day in a conversation, and
told this story: During the 1880 cam.
paign two good friends of mine blufred
each other into bet of $4,000 on Gar
field and Hancock. They were both
full of sand and both would have paid
in case of losing the bet. / knew that
neither of them could afford to pay.
The next morning after the bet was
made, and after they had cooled down,
/ got them together and played my
hand. l told them what fools they
wese to bet $4,000 apiece. aud got them
to compromise on dinner for fifteen
persons at Delmonico's, having the un.
dcrstandIng that / was to order the
dinner. Well, We had the dinner. i
went TO see Charley Delmonico about
1t, and told him wanted the best din
ner he could serve for fifteen persons.
lie wanted to know ii / would limit
him to the cost of the wines, and told
him of course not, as did not care so
long as the wine did not cost n million
dollars bottle. He then wanted
TO know what my idea was and said
presumed that he would serve big
dinner at $10O plate. He studied
awhile and replied: General, to be
honest with you, could not serve any
one with dinner at 800 plate. /
can serve you with dinner at $50 q
head, equal to anything that any man
ever ate or drank Well, we compro.
missed for $50 head, aud we had
dinner, and 1t was dinner. My friend.
who had lost the bet, was so well
pleased for not having to pay the
$4,000 that he called the chef and gave
him $50 bill. So that his dinner
cost him $500. But when l hear talk
of 800 dinners / know It is chaif. !"
"By the way" said the General, at
was at this dinner that heard the most
perfect paradox statement of my life.
My friend, who paid for the dinner,
asked few questions of the chef as he
was presenting him with the $50 bill,
and among other things asked him
what was the most difficult task en-
countered by cook. The chef replied,
after little bit of study: 'Sare, ct IL to
cook ze rare roz bif so Eat ct IL well
dom"
Come to Newport next summer and
see me ride; then will enjoy It," said
Mr.. Bancroft recently. His physicians,
says correspondent of the New York
Star, fear to have him risk taking cold
at this season of the year, and so he
has given up the exercise he best
loves, and one which the broad streets
and roads in and about Washington
afford so much opportunity for pleas.
antly enjoying. The work upon
which Mr., Bancroft is surmised to be
engaged is study of the historical au.
ecdotes Of Shakespeare, but he does not
tell his friends of his occupations, and
what is known is gathered from his
special collections OF books about him
and occasional questions regarding Ger.
tain data TO close friends.
~
A new Member from the West ma le
speech the other day, says New
York Sun correspondent, and almost
took away the breath of the official
stenographers In the House. He talked
in monosyllables, and at the rate of
about 200 words q minute, Ordinarily
Representatives speak about 22j words
minute. Once in great while man
appears in Congress who rattles off so
words in sixty seconds, and he creates
panic among the stenographGIs
When Belford of Colorado was in the
House he used to make the official re.
porters rush occasionally. His Ian
guage was terse and well spoken, but
he roved around like wild man. lie
began to walk as soon as he began
talking, and would go over among the
Democrats, hundred feet from his
seat, and the stenographer reporting
him would follow him around in his